Dawlish World War One Project

The account of his death in the Western Times of 28 March 1916 shows that Gerald Rundell had been working as a bank clerk in Warminster before he enlisted. The UK Register of Soldiers' Effects reveals that his father was not paid a War Gratuity because it was “not admissible under six months service”. He appears to have enlisted at Yeovil, Somerset, some time in January 1916 and was attached to the 9^th Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry. This was one of the battalions of Kitchener's New Army of volunteers and was in training before being sent to one of the theatres of war.

The Western Times account shows that G.E.Rundell had been in the army about eight weeks, and had been ill for some days. On March 16^th he reported sick and the Medical Officer attended him at his hut. However, he “did not keep his bed, and after three or four days looked brighter. R.A.M.C. evidence [to the inquest ] showed that deceased was in a state of collapse on Thursday last. He was treated and placed in an ambulance for [the military hospital at] Wareham.” He died in the ambulance on the way to hospital.

James Rundell (1853-1926) was born in Walsall and moved with his mother to 52 Fore Street, Tiverton by 1871 (census date). In 1892 he married Winifred Mary J Rundell (1861-1926) of Portsmouth, Hants, and was in business as an ironmonger.

They were still at Tiverton when Gerald Easterbrook Rundell was born, and for the 1901 census.

By 1911 James had retired and the family were living at 3 Sea Lawn Terrace, Exeter Road, Dawlish and Gerald is described as “Student”. He was then 17 and is not shown on Dawlish Boys' School Roll of Honour and so is likely to have finished his school days in Tiverton.